What we do with reports about suspected fraud

Our specialist officers assess every fraud allegation.

We know you may want to know about the progress and result of information you gave us. But we can’t release details about our activities. This is due to the secrecy provisions in the laws we’re bound by including the Privacy Act 1988.

We take all reports of suspected fraud seriously.

Sometimes you may not see changes to someone’s situation. The information you give us doesn't always result in a change in a person’s payment or service.

In some cases we may not take any further action. For example we may find:

the person you name doesn’t get a payment or service

we can’t identify the person, usually because we don’t have enough detail in the allegation

the information isn’t relevant to the payment or service the person gets

the information doesn’t match the person’s situation

We know not all incorrect payments are because of fraud. Sometimes incorrect payments can come from a mistake. A mistake may include:

an accidental oversight

an error or misunderstanding when filling out forms, or

not providing us with all the information we need

But even if there is a mistake, incorrect payments must be repaid.

If we find enough evidence of criminal behaviour, we may take further steps. This means we make a referral to the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions.